Feminism and films have come a long way. Pakistani cinema too has portrayed women as as multi-faceted and strong personalities, a remarkable achievement in light of challenges related to censorship, cultural taboos and prevailing societal attitudes.
Yes,even Lollywood has churned out some pretty good content for the female audience, way before the era of item songs, cheap demeaning humor, and women being subject to objectification took over.
Don’t believe us? Here is a list of Pakistani films that provided an accurate representation of women and the issues they faced in their time. All these movies featured strong female leads, all with a refreshingly fresh perspective.
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1. Saheli (1960)
Saheli is the story of two friends who fall in love with the same man. The tug of war between elements of friendship and love in the film; added dimensions to the female characters; and the fact that the film was more about the female leads rather than their love lives is what makes this a film fit for a feminist.
Saheli cast Shamim Ara and Nayyar Sultana as female leads. This led to a series of amazing performances by these iconic actresses. The two became the most prominent leading ladies of the 60s.
Saheli release date: December 23, 1960
2. Zarqa (1969)
This movie is a classic, political masterpiece that features a strong female lead.
Zarqa is about a woman in the Palestinian Liberation Movement who challenges the brutal practices of Israel. Zarqa cast Neelo in the lead role.
Riaz Shahid’s Zarqa is a film that acknowledges and highlights the role of women in the political sphere.
This is a film that didn’t need a hero to save the day (move over Wonder Woman, Zarqa did it first).
Zarqa release date: October 17, 1969
3. Society Girl (1976)
This is a film by a woman for women and depicts a woman way ahead of her time. Sangeeta’s directorial debut, Society Girl cast light on the fact that woman too can be good, bad and ugly. If men can have a dark side, women are human too.
Society Girl was so tastefully written that the rebel female lead in the film was not rejected by Pakistani audiences of the 70s.
Society Girl release date: April 16, 1976
4. Bol (2011)
This Shoaib Mansoor creation was a breath of fresh air that came after a dry spell of good cinema (not just good female-oriented content).
Bol follows the story of various women in society, from their own point of view.
The movie cast superstars such as Mahira Khan, Humaima Malik, and Iman Ali to bring these characters to life.
Bol raised questions like why are women looked down upon in our society? Why is this society obsessed with sons while daughters are disregarded?
Bol release date: June 24, 2011
5. Dukhtar (2014)
Dukhtar not only combats the serious issue of child marriages, but it does so with a female lead. Dukhtar cast the talented Samiya Mumtaz as the lead Allah Rakhi.
Afia Nathaniel’s Dukhtar is a tale of a mother and daughter who run away to save the child from being married off to a tribal leader. The movie highlights the fact that women need to stand with women in order to combat patriarchy.
Dukhtar release date: September 18, 2014
6. My Pure Land (2017)
My Pure Land depicts an issue that most Pakistanis would easily dismiss instead of acknowledge.
The movie follows a group of rural women that unite against scheming family members and mercenaries. The women hold them off with the limited firepower they have (only in Pakistan will you find female gunslingers this good).
My Pure Land cast light on the fact that cinema has evolved over the ages. No more item songs, we want to see realistic women characters onscreen.
My Pure Land release date: June 24, 2017
7. Behadd
Behadd is a telefim but that just makes it even better. This telefilm specifically targets the issue of getting married again, especially for widowed women.
Behadd cast light on the bond between a widowed mother and her daughter. The teenage daughter is the center of her mother’s life. When her mother considers marriage because Fawad Khan’s character steps in, the daughter is jealous.
The film promotes the idea that life does not end for widowed women with children. If she finds a good man who is kind and compassionate, why not marry him (not just because he’s as good-looking as Fawad Khan).
Behadd release date: June 8, 2013
8. Ek Thi Marium (2016)
This is a biographical film of Pakistan’s first female fighter pilot Marrium Mukhtiar. This movie was directed by the multi-talented Sarmad Khoosat. The screenplay was penned by the fantastic writer Umera Ahmed.
Ek Thi Marrium cast Sanam Baloch in the lead role. The movie was released on Defence Day (make room for female heroes).
Ek Thi Marrium release date: September 6, 2016
9. Dobara Phir Se (2016)
This is a movie that washes away the stigma of divorce. Dobara Phir Se challenges all norms on relationships after divorce. It introduces the concept of co-parenting after divorce and that children need their family in times like this. Broken homes do not have to be damaged homes.
Dobara Phir Se cast a talented team of actors including Sanam Saeed, Hareem Farooq, Ali Kazmi, Adeel Hussain and Atiqa Odho
Dobara Phir Se release date: November 25, 2016
10. Motorcycle Girl (2018)
This film features the story of a real-life lady Zenith Irfan who went on a biking trip to the North, defying a lot of societal and cultural taboos in the process.
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Motorcycle Girl cast the aspiring actress Sohai Ali Abro as the lead.
Motorcycle Girl release date: April, 20, 2018
11. Cake
Cake is really the story of a dysfunctional family. What most won’t notice is that Pakistan’s Oscar contender was also the story of strong, independent women in lead roles.
Cake is the story of two sisters who are self-sufficient and yet imperfect. This movie smashes the ‘women are glass dolls’ persona that patriarchal attitudes have created over the years. Cake cast Amina Sheikh and Saman Saeed in the lead roles.
Cake release date: March 30, 2018
Got more suggestions for Pakistani movies that deserve to be watched on International Women’s Day? Let us know in the comments below!
